Prepay time-controlled-service apparatus



W. H. THOMPSON, D'EC'D. I. D. TIIoMPsoN. ADMINISTRATOR. PREPAY TIME C-NTROLLED' SERVICE APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILI-:n APR/27, |916.v REIIEwIzn ocr. Io. I-9I9.

Patented May 11, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET vl.

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l. D. THOMPSON. ADMINISTRATOR.

PREPAY TIME CONTROLLED SERVICE APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED APR. 2.1. |916. IIENEwI-:D ocT. I0. Isls,

1,839,634. Patented -May 11, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- W. H. THOMPSON, DECD. J. n. THOMPSON. ADMINISTRATOR. l PREPAY TIME CONTROLLED SERVICE APPARATUS. lAPPLICATION man APR.'27. 1916. RENEwED ocT. To. |919. 1,339,63 Patented May 11,-1920 i 3 SHEETS-SHEET a.

STATES 'PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. THOMPSON, yOF IVIElvI-IIS, TENNESSEE; D. TI-IOlVIPSON, ADMINISTRATOR 'OF SAID WILLIAM I-I. THOMPSGN, DEGEASEI), ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, ,T0 RICHARD T. VAN RIPER, 0E' DALLAS, TEXAS.

PREPAY TIME-CONTRLLED-SERVICE APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 11, 1920.

Application filed April 27, 1916, Serial No. 93,901. Renewed October 10, 1919. Serial No. 329,892.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, lViLLrAM II. THOMP- soN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Memphis, county of Shelby, and State o Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Prepay Time Controlled- Service Apparatus, ot which the following is a specification.

rlhis invention relates to prepay time controlled service apparatus.

My invention has i'or its objects the provision of a prepay or coin-controlled appatus for determining periods of electric current service, one of its uses being the control of electric current to a tan, by which on the insertion oi a coin ot proper denomination in the coin-controlled apparatus, electric current will be available for a predetermined period by the operation of a novel time mechanism, electric vswitch controlled thereby, and electro-magnet, preferably a solenoid, for the control of the time mechanism.

Any coin-controlled or ope 'ated device may be used with my invention as it constitutes no part of the invention; any clocl; train or time mechanism may be use-d in connection with the improved and novel devices which govern the starting, driving and stopping of such time mechanism, preterably, the balanced switch which is hereinafter described is used in my invention as it was designed for, and is well adapted to, such use, but modifications could be resorted to in this switch; modiiications may also be resorted to in the switch controlling means that are operated by the time mechanism.

rIlhe' solenoid and armaturevwhich serve as a stopping means for the time mechanism when the period or" service paid for, has elapsed constitutes a substantially novel feature of my invention. The solenoid is energized and retracts the armature when the prepaid electric current `is being supplied, but when the time ior such supply has elapsed, the armature cooperates with the escapement lever of the time mechanism andthrows the balance wheel impulse pin oil'- the center line of the escapement, thus producing tension in the hair spring so that power is stored therein and consequently, when the coin-controlled apparatus is again operated, the switch closed, and the solenoid energized, the conditions at the balance wheel are such that the latter starts on the next impulse. The armature is relatively light so that when it falls against the escapement lever, the momentum of the balance wheel will not injure the escapement because the armature may oscillate with the escapement lever until it brings the balance wheel to rest with the impulse pin off of the center line, but, nevertheless the coperation is such that the tension of the hair spring of the balance wheel is overcome. So far as I am aware, I am the first to provide, broadly, a mechanism which will thus control a time movement so that on the release of the escapeiient lever, with the time movement"ready tor operation, it will at once start.

rIlhe switch controlling means that I employ in connection with the time movement embody novel features and combinations, whereby one or more coins of the unitary value intended 'for use with the device, may be utilized to condition the mechanism to give any desired period of service. For instance, with my improved mechanism, it is possible not only toinsert one coin and obtain the service refl resented thereby by waiting until the time period has expired, but one coin after anoth r may be inserted in the coin-controlled mechanism and the later repeatedly operated at the outset to con dition the mechanism tor a continuous service equal, in period of time, to the aggregate et It, for instance,

i all et' the coins inserted. he mechanism is vused in connection with electric ian and the user wishes to conen it to operate all day or all night, instead ot one hour, by inserting the requisite number of coins of the proper denomination and repeatedly operating the coincontrolled mechanism, a corresponding time period oi service can be provided so that the tan will operate continuously, without further attention, until such period has eX- pired.

My invention also contemplates the provision of an improved base or container for the mechanism, whereby the latter is located in one compartment and another compartment is provided Jfor the reception of the coins after operation of the coin-controlled mechanism and, in connection therewith, l also provide a cover which locks in an improved manner.

As the invention is susceptible of modification, the disclosures hereinafter and in the accompanying drawings are to be considered as illustrative, rather than restrictive, of the scope of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the shell, the tan support being in Vfull lines and the handle raised;

Fig. 2, a section taken through the shell and detachable locking bottom, taken at right-angles to Fig. 1, the operative parts being omitted;

Fig. 3, a detail oi one of the guides on the bottom;

F ig. 4, a side elevation of the operative mechanism;

Fig. 49, a detail side view of the trip arm and its ratchet wheel;

Fig. 5, a detail bottom plan view or' the switch, solenoid, armature and insulating base therefor;

Fig. 6, a plan view of the hour Wheel, escapement gear, and trip arm and ratchet wheel;

Fig. Fig. 6;

Fig. 8, a face view of the escapement gear and the block and spring carried thereby;

Fig. 9, a detail showing the form of the pawl on the escapement block and the way it coperates with the ratchet wheel;

Fig. 10, a view looking toward the opposite side of the escapement gear;

Fig. 11, a view looking toward the hour wheel and the escapement gear; and

Figs. 12 and 13, detail sideand edge views of the escapement block.

llfhile my invention is adapted for use in connection with any prepaid time service, I have shown it as adapted for use in connection with any standard electric fan. The circular shell 1 is covered by a flat plate 2 and surmounted by a standard 3 having a. support 4 iior the electric fan of which any direct or alternating current fan of any type r'iay be used. A thumb nut 5 secures the pport 1 at any desired angle to the standard The slot 6 is for the introduction oit the coin whose prepayment is necessary to the mechanism in operation for the supply of current to the fan.

Extending diametrically of the shell 1 is a partition 7 which has a slot 8 and notches The partition divides the shell into the mechanism-containing compartment 10 and the coin containing compartment 11. A circular flanged bottom 12 having a bead 13 is adapted to fit within" the bottom of the shell 7, a longitudinal section through 1 and form a bottom for the compartments 1() and l1. rlhe bead gives strength and rigidity to the bottom and prevents it from being pried open. Short legs or supports 14 preferably of rubber, are carried by the lower face of the bottom 12 to prevent marking ot' the surface on which the fan rests. Notched guides 15 are carried by the bottom and are adapted to straddle the partition 7 and to engage the notches 9. These guides add rigidity to the bottom and prevent it from turning within the shell 1. A lock 16 of any approved or desired kind is carried by the bottom 12 and its bolt 17 may be shot into the slot S, thereby locking the bottom to the shell 1. The telescoping of the bottom vwithin the shell, combined with the lock 16, its bolt 17, and the guides 15 and their coperation with the partition 7, securely holds the bottom in position and pre vents it from buckling or being pried open, thus eflectually protecting the coins in the compartment 11 and the mechanism in the compartment 10.

The coin-controlled operating means may be of any desired kind, that shown generally at 18 being operable by a handle 19, limited in play by two stops on the shell, one of which is shown at 20. 'll he coin mechanism is arranged to receive the coin inserted through the slot 6.

rllhe power spring of the going barrel of the time movement is wound by the coperation of the coin mechanism 18, the coin, and pins 21 on the notched disk 22, which is carried by the shai't 23 and is held by a pawl 24 which serves to insure registry of the coin in the slot of' the mechanism 18 and also as a retaining pawl to hold the tension of the main spring in the going barrel 25 Which is loosely mount-ed on the arbor 26 (Fig. 4). The going barrel and its gear 27 are loose on the arbor 26 and their connection to said arbor 26 is through the main spring, one of whose ends is fastened to the arbor and the other to the going barrel. The gear 27 of the going barrel meshes with, and drives the clock train 28 of which the gear 29, Figs. 1, 6, 7 and 11, is the hour Wheel which causes the tripping of the mechanism at the end of the period for which payment has been made, and thus cuts oil the supply oit electric current to the fan.

The arbor 26 has fastened thereto a pinion 30, Fig. 4, and on the other end of said arbor is fastened a large gear 31 (Fig. l) which, through the train ot' gears 32, is turned by the pinion that is fast on the shaft 23.

The insertion of a coin of proper denomination in the slot 6 and into the mechanism 18 causes the latter, through the coin, to engage the pins 21 and when the handle 19 is turned, the shaft 23 is locked to the handle. The rotation of the gears 32 by the pinion 33 causes rotation of the arbor 26 land the pinion 30, such rotation winding the after another, or subsequently, the repeated turnings of the handle 19 and shaft 23 cause rewinding of the main spring and thus any desired period of use of the electric current may be prepaid.

The coins fall into the compartment 11 where they are retained until the lock 16 is operated by any suitable removable key 34 which is shown inserted in Fig. 1.

The hour wheel 29 carries a fixed pin 35 and has a quill 36. An escapement gear 37 is staked to a quill 38 and carries an escapement block 39 which is pivoted thereto on a pin 40. The escapement block is provided With a pin 41 which extends loosely through an enlarged opening 42 in the escapement gear 37 in position to be engaged by the pin '35 for the purpose of swinging the escapement block 39 in opposition to the action of spring 43 whose free end 44 bears against one end of -the escapement block 39 and whose remaining end is xed to the gear 37 at 45. The normal position of the escapement block 39 is thatshown in Figs. 8 and 10. The escapement block carries an angular escapement pin 46 projecting from the side opposite to the pin 41. The escapement gear 37 is in mesh with the pinion 30 and, consequently, when the arbor 26 is turned to wind the spring that drives the clock train, the escapement gear 37 is turned by said pinion.

Loosely mounted on the quill 38 of the escapement gear 37 is the hub 47 which carries a fine toothed ratchet wheel 48 engaged by the pin 46 and consequently, the ratchet wheel and its hub are held by the pin 46 and are rotated to a degree corresponding to the turning of the escapement gear 37 by the pinion 26. Consequently, the amount of time service represented by the rotation of the pinion 26, is transferred to the escapement wheel 37 and hub 47. On the other end of the hub 47 is fixed a trip arm 49. A spring 50 having one end secured to the trip arm at 51, although it could be secured to the hub 47 or the ratchet wheel 48, has its other end 52 suitably lixed or anchored to the frame 53 of the clock train at 54. rlhe turning movement imparted to the ratchet wheel 48 by the escapement gear 37 winds the spring 50 so that upon the release of the ratchet wheel 48 by the disengagement of the pin 46 therefrom, the ratchet wheel, the hub 47, and the trip arm 49 are instantly snapped back to the normal position shown in Fig. 4, in which normal condition the trip arm 49 bears upon andfopens the balanced switch 55, thus brealnng the circuit and cutting off the use of the current. The release of the pin 46 from the ratchet wheel 48 occurs at the instant the pin 35 on the hour wheel 29 engages the pin 41 carried by the escapement block 39, the pressure exerted by the unwinding of the spring, acting through the pin 35, causing the escapement block 39 to be shifted against the action of its spring 43, withdrawing the pin 46 from engagement with the ratchet wheel 48. The extent of turning oi' the escapement wheel 37 and the consequent distance the pin 41 is moved from the pin 35 is determined by the number of coins used. rlhe normal engagement of ,the pin 46 with the ratchet wheel 48 causes the backward turning of the trip arm 49 to correspond exactly in extent or degree of movement with the backward turning oia the escapement wheel 37, as these parts then move as a unit.

Secured to the top of the shell 1 is a block 56 of insulating material which carries the balanced switch 55 and the solenoid 57. rThe switch 55 is pivoted at 58 to a hanger 59 carried by the block 56 and has a terminal base plate 60 which is provided with a binding post 61. A light spring 62 connects one end portion of the balanced switch 55 to the base plate and terminal 60. The downward swing of the contact end of the balanced switch is limited, subject to adjustment, by a screw 63 which depends from A the base 60 and passes through a slot 64 in the switch 55 and is provided with adjusting and check nuts 65. One of the contacts 66 rises from the switch 55, and the other contact 67 depends from a terminal plato 68 which is secured to the insulating block by a combined binding post and fastening screw 69. The spring 62 tends to hold the contacts 66 and 67 together, but they are normally separated, as shown in F 4, due to the retraction of the trip arm 49 by the spring 50 which causes the trip arm to engage the piece of insulation 70 that is carried by the end of the switch 55 nearest the time mechanism. rIhe engagement of the switch 55 with the nuts 65 not only limits the opening movement ot the switch. but prevents further retraction of the trip yrin 49 under the influence or the spring 50.

The solenoid 57 has a magnetizablc core 71 which carries a disk 72. The escapement lever 73 o1 the time movement is so related to the disk 72 that when the latter is down, as shown by ull lines in Fig. 4, it bears upon the escapement lever and brings the latter to rest with the impulse pin 74 of the balance Wheel 75 off oi the center line of the escapement, thus producing tension in the hair spring 76 so that power is stored in the hair spring and consequently, when the armature 71 is again drawn into the solenoid 57, on the electrical energization oi the latter, the balance Wheel will start on the neXt impulse. The armature head or disk 72 is light so that when it falls against the escapement lever 73, the mechanism of the balance wheel will not injure the escapement, because the armature may oscillate up and down in the solenoid until it inally brings the balance wheel to rest with the impulse pin off of the center line of the escapement lever, but, the armature and its head 72 being heavier than the tension of the hair spring 76, the balance wheel will come to rest. This action occurs when the pins 35 and 41, after having come together, release the pin 46 from the ratchet wheel 48 and enable the spring 50 to snap the trip arm 49 to the position shown in Fig. 4, by which action the contacts 66 and 67 are separated, thus breaking the current which is supplied to the solenoid 57 during the entire period that the fan, or other device, to lwhich current is being supplied, is receiving current.

The solenoid 57 is wound to a relatively high resistance, as for instance, by the use of fine wire, so that only a very small amount of current is consumed by the solenoid and only enough to draw up the armature 71 and raise the disk 72 free of the escapement lever 73.

The balanced switch 55 is acted upon by the spring 62 with only suflicient tension to overcome friction, sufficient to bring the contacts 66 and 67 together when the switch is freed by the drawing back of the trip arm 49 on the insertion of a coin and the operation of the handle 19. Furthermore, this balanced condition enables the trip arm 49 to easily open the switch when the trip arm is released after the time period paid for has expired and the trip arm has been released by the engagement of the pins 35 and 41. Being a balanced switch, the vibration of the fan motor does not aifect the position of the switch contacts and prevents sparking at them, thus prolonging the life of the contacts.

The arrangement ol' circuits is shown in F ig. 5 in a more or less diagrammatic manner, the current entering the wire a, thence passing to the binding post 69 and through the terminal plate 68 to the contacts 66 and 67 if they are closed, thence through the balanced switch 55 and terminal plate 60, via the wire 5 to a fan, or other device, to which current is to be supplied and, returning, through the circuit d, binding post 77 on the block 56 and back to the source of current. The solenoid is arranged in shunt on the main circuit by the wires e and f which connect it to the binding posts 6l and 77, respectively, so that, being of high resistance, the solenoid only receives suiiicient current to cause it to retract its armature 71.

Assuming that the parts are in the normal position shown in Fig. 4, when a coin is inserted in the slot 6 and into the coin mechanism 18, and the handle 19 is turned, the main spring of the time movement is partly wound, which causes the escapement wheel 37 to be turned and with it, the ratchet wheel 48 and trip arm 49, against the tension of the spring 50. The release of the trip arm from the insulating members 70 of the switch 55 permits the spring 62 t0 close the contacts 66 and 67, whereupon current is supplied to the fan c and the solenoid 57 is energized, causing it to raise the disk 72 free of the escaping lever 73, whereupon the power stored in the hair spring 76 causes the balance wheel 75 to move and the clock train then operates until the pin 35 strikes the pin 41, whereupon the escapement block 39 is shifted and the pin 46 is withdrawn from the ratchet wheel 48. The spring 50 then snaps the trip arm 49 back to normal position, where it strikes the part 70 and opens the switch. The descent of the disk 72 causes coperation with the escapement lever 73 as previously described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a time controlled service apparatus, the combination with a time movement, of an electric switch controlling service,means controlled by the switch for controlling the starting and stopping of the time movement, means controlling the switch, which, in turn, is operated by the time movement, and normally inoperative manual winding means capable of different degrees of operation whereby the time movement may be wound up to different desired degrees to condition the switch controlling means to correspond to different desired periods of elapsed time before the time movement will cause the switch controlling means to cooperate with the switch, said winding means requiring the use of one or more coins to enable it to be operated, according to the degree of winding desired.

2. In a time controlled service apparatus, the combination with a time movement, a power spring therefor, and means for winding the power spring to any desired extent, of an escapement wheel adapted to be set to different positions, according to the extent to which the spring is wound, a movably mounted escapement member carried byY said Wheel, Said time movement having service Controlling device with which the means adapted to trip said movably mounttrip is adapted to cooperate When released. 10

ed eseapement member, a spring-actuated In testimony whereof hereunto affix my trip provided With a ratchet Wheel with the signature.

teeth of Which said movably mounted es- VILLIAM H. THOMPSON. oapement member is adapted to eoperate, In presence ofwhereby the trip may be held in any posi- JOI-IN W. FARLEY,

tion to which it may be retracted, and a S. F. TETER. 

